Land plane

ABSTRACT

A land plane to smooth and level any irregularities in the surface of an agricultural field. The land plane includes a main frame; a first wing frame attached to the first side of the main frame adjacent the front end thereof, a second wing frame attached to the second side of the main frame adjacent the rear end thereof; a V-shaped scrapper blade having an apex adjacent the front end of the main frame; a first transverse scrapper blade extending diagonally from the first wing frame across the main frame to the second wing frame and having a gap adjacent the second side of the main frame; and a second transverse scrapper blade means extending diagonally from the first wing frame across the main frame to the second wing frame, parallel to and spaced rearwardly from the first transverse scrapper blade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to agricultural implements,and in particular, to agricultural implements for smoothing any surfaceirregularities in a field.

2. Background Art

Prior to planting an agricultural crop such as rice, cotton or soybeans,it is desirable to insure that the field is substantially level and freeof surface irregularities and the like. If a field has surfaceirregularities when a crop is planted, crop production can be affecteddue to inability to control water flow, standing water, excessiverunoff, and the like. Since surface irregularities are typically causedby prior tilling, aeration, and harvesting procedures, it has becomeroutine step for many farmers to level a field each time a crop is to beplanted.

Various agricultural implements have been designed for being pulled byagricultural tractors over cultivated fields in an attempt to level andremove surface irregularities from the fields. A preliminarypatentability search in Class 172, Subclasses 799.5, 684.5, 673 and 675,produced the following patents, which appear to be relevant to thepresent invention:

Elsey, U.S. Pat. No. 1,166,197; Noffsinger et al., U.S. Pat. No.1,845,324; Berry, U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,219; Miller, U.S. Pat. No.4,614,240; Berry, U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,786; Springfield, U.S. Pat. No.4,898,247; Dunn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,165; Kerpash Sr., U.S. Pat.No. 5,890,546; Almer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,792; and Martin, U.S. Pat. No.1,476,263.

To be transported over a typical state or county road or highway, landplanes are typically limited in width to approximately sixteen feet (4.9meters). However, in order to economically and properly level a field, aland plane must be sized to cover a substantially large area in singlepass over the field, and to provide sufficient drag when pulled over thefield, etc. One solution is to use foldable wings so that the land planecan be folded up for transport over a road or highway, and unfolded forbeing pulled across a field to level the surface thereof. Dunn et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,165, discloses such a folding land plane. The Dunnet al. folding land plane has a length that is over 2.5 times thedeployed, in-use position width thereof. While the relatively longlength of the Dunn et al. folding land plane provide the unit withsufficient drag and earth moving capability, the length also makes itmore difficult to maneuver the land plane in the field during a landplaning operation.

Nothing in the known prior art, either singly or in combination,discloses or suggests the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The land plane of the present invention is used to smooth and level anyirregularities in the surface of an agricultural field. The land planeof the present invention includes a main frame, a first wing frameattached to the first side of the main frame adjacent the front endthereof, a second wing frame attached to the second side of the mainframe adjacent the rear end thereof, a V-shaped scrapper blade having anapex adjacent the front end of the main frame, a first transversescrapper blade extending diagonally from the first wing frame across themain frame to the second wing frame and having a gap adjacent the secondside of the main frame, and a second transverse scrapper blade meansextending diagonally from the first wing frame across the main frame tothe second wing frame, parallel to and spaced rearwardly from the firsttransverse scrapper blade. The preferred embodiment of the presentinvention can be described as an off-set wing land plane having a mainframe approximately 40 feet (12.2 meters) long, 16 feet (4.9 meters)wide, with an overall width of 34 feet (10.4 meters) when the wings arefolded down to deployed, in-use positions. The right wing is locatedtoward the front of the main frame, and the left wing is located towardthe rear of the main frame so that a pair of parallel blade means canextend diagonally across the land plane at a 1-to-1 or 45° rearwardangle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a land plane havinga cylinder on the front hitch to level the land plane in the field andto transport the land plane down the road.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an off-set wingland plane that has a relatively short main frame to provide goodmaneuverability and allow a greater width to be covered in the field.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an off-set wingland plane that has a V-shaped front blade to act as a stabilizer fortwo following parallel blades.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an off-set wingland plane that pulls from the top of the main frame, rather than fromthe bottom (ground level) thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an off-set wingland plane that is easier to transport and can cover approximately twiceas many field acres as existing land planes in the same length or periodof time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of the land plane of thepresent invention, with the wings thereof shown in a lowered, deployedposition

FIG. 2 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1, but with the wings of theland plane of the present invention shown in a raised, transportposition.

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the front end of the landplane of FIG. 1 on a somewhat larger scale with portions broken away oromitted for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the rear end of the landplane of FIG. 1 on a somewhat larger scale with portions broken away oromitted for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the land plane of the present invention isshown in FIGS. 1-4 and identified by the numeral 11. The phrase “landplane” is used herein to refer to an agricultural apparatus for movementover a field or the like to smooth and level any irregularities in thesurface S of the field, sometimes also referred to as a “land smoother,”etc. The land plane 11 of the present invention is especially designedto be pulled by a tow vehicle V, e.g., a typical agricultural tractor,over the surface S of the agricultural field to smooth and level anyirregularities in the surfaceS of the field.

The land plane 11 comprises, in general, a main frame 13, a first wingframe 15 attached to one side (e.g., the right side) of the main frame13, and a second wing frame 17 attached to the other side (e.g., theleft side) of the main frame 13. The first and second wing frames 15, 17are preferably pivotally attached to the main frame 13 so that the landplane 11 can be pivoted between a deployed, in-use position (see, ingeneral, FIG. 1) for being moved over an agricultural field to smoothand level any irregularities in the field, and a folded, transportposition (see, in general, FIG. 2) for being moved over a road or thelike to or away from the agricultural field, etc. The first and secondwing frames 15, 17 are preferably off-set from one another and arrangeddiagonally across from one another at approximately a 45° angle (1-to-1slope) with the first wing frame 15 located generally adjacent the frontof the main frame 13 and with the second wing frame 17 located generallyadjacent the rear of the main frame 13. The preferred embodiment of theland plane 11 has an overall width of approximately 34 feet (10.4meters) in the deployed, in-use position, and just over approximately 16feet (4.9 meters) in the folded, transport position, with an overalllength of approximately 38 feet (11.6 meters), as opposed to commonprior art land planes which typically have an overall width of 16 to 20feet (4.9 to 6.1 meters), and an overall length of 50 to 80 feet (15.2to 24.4 meters). The differences in length and width make the land plane11 of the present invention easier to transport over roads and maneuverin fields than such prior art land planes, while being capable ofcovering approximately twice as many field acres than such prior artland planes in the same period of time.

The main frame 13 preferably consists of an open framework constructedout of 4 by 8 inches (10.16 by 20.32 centimeters) metal tubing cut andwelded to have a front end 19, a rear end 21, a first side 23, and asecond side 25. When viewed from the top as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, themain frame 13 may have the basic shape of an open rectangle with agenerally V-shaped front end 19. Various braces 27 may be provided toreinforce and strengthen the main frame 13, etc. A hitch 29 ispreferably provided at the front end 19 of the main frame 13 to allowattachment of the land plane 11 to the tow vehicle V. The hitch 29 mayinclude an elongated tow bar 31 having a vertical aperture 33 or otherhitch structure at the front end thereof for being attached to coactinghitch structure of the tow vehicle V, an intermediate bar or member 35,a first pivot rod 37 for pivotally attaching the tow bar 31 to theintermediate bar 35, and a second pivot rod 39 for pivotally attachingthe tow bar 31 to the front end 19 of the main frame 13. A hydrauliccylinder 41 or the like is preferably mounted between the main frame 13and the intermediate bar 35 (see FIGS. 1-3) for pivoting theintermediate bar 35 about the pivot rod 39 so that the land plane 11 canbe leveled in the field, etc., as will now be apparent to those skilledin the art. The hitch 29 is located generally at the top of the landplane 11 so that when towed by the tow vehicle V, the land plane 11 ispulled from the top thereof, rather than the bottom.

Ground engaging lower frame members or runners 43 may be mounted toportions of the main frame 13 (e.g., beneath the rear first side 23 andfront second side 25 perimeter or border of the main frame 13) viabraces 45 (see, in general, FIG. 4) to support the main frame 13 abovethe surface S of the field. Support wheels 47 are preferably attached tothe main frame 13 to coact with the runners 43 in supporting the mainframe 13 above the surface S of the field. Hydraulic cylinders 49 (showndiagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2) or the like are preferably associatedwith the support wheels 47 to allow vertical adjustment of the supportwheels 47 so that the support wheels 47 can be extended to fully supportthe main frame 13, and the entire land plane 11, when the land plane 11is pulled over roads or the like.

Each wing frame 15, 17 also preferably consists of an open frameworkconstructed out of 4 by 8 inches (10.16 by 20.32 centimeters) metaltubing or the like, cut and welded to have the basic shape of an open,skewed rectangle when viewed from the top as shown in FIG. 1. Each wingframe 15, 17 is preferably pivotally attached to the respective side 23,25 of the main frame 13 via a hinge/hydraulic cylinder means 51 to allowthe operator of the land plane 11 to move the wing frames 15, 17 betweenthe deployed, in-use position and the folded, transport position as willnow be apparent to those skilled in the art. The hinge/hydrauliccylinder means 51 are shown diagrammatically in the drawings and couldtake several specific forms now apparent to those skilled in the art,such as the hydraulic folding system 92 and master linkage 100 structuredisclosed in Dunn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,165, issued May 25, 1993,incorporated herein by reference.

Ground engaging lower frame members or runners 53 may be mounted toportions of each wing frame 15, 17 (e.g., beneath the outer and rearperimeter or border of each wing frame 15, 17) via braces 55 (see, ingeneral, FIGS. 2 and 3) to support the wing frames 15, 17 above thesurface S of the field. Support wheels 57 are preferably attached toeach wing frame 15, 17 to coact with the runners 53 in supporting thewing frames 15, 17 above the surface S of the field.

The land plane 11 includes a V-shaped scrapper blade means 59 having anapex 61. The V-shaped scrapper blade means 59 is mounted to and beneaththe main frame 13 with the apex 61 adjacent the front end 19 of the mainframe 13 substantially centered between the first and second sides 23,25 of the main frame 13 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), via braces 63 or the like.The V-shaped scrapper blade means 59 may be formed by a first straightscrapper blade 65 mounted to and beneath the main frame 13 with theinner end thereof located at the apex 61 and with the outer end thereofextending rearwardly and outwardly from the apex 61 towards the firstside 23 of the main frame 13, and a second straight scrapper blade 67mounted to and beneath the main frame 13 with the inner end thereoflocated at the apex 61 and with the outer end thereof extendingrearwardly and outwardly from the apex 61 towards the second side 25 ofthe main frame 13. Thus, the apex 61 may be formed by the overlapping orbutted inner ends of the scrapper blades 65, 67.

The land plane 11 includes a first transverse scrapper blade means 69mounted to and beneath the main frame 13, the first wing frame 15, andthe second wing frame 17 via brackets 70 or the like. The firsttransverse scrapper blade means 69 extends diagonally from the firstwing frame 15 across the main frame 13 to the second wing frame 17. Acritical feature of the present invention is that the first transversescrapper blade means 69 has a gap 71 adjacent the second side 25 of themain frame 13 (see FIG. 1). The first transverse scrapper blade means 69preferably includes a first scrapper blade 73 mounted to and beneath thefirst wing frame 15, a main scrapper blade 75 mounted to and beneath themain frame 13, and a second scrapper blade 77 mounted to and beneath thesecond wing frame 17 with the gap 71 of the first transverse scrapperblade means 69 formed between the main and second scrapper blades 75,77. The first and second scrapper blades 73, 75 are designed so thatwhen the wing frames 15, 17 are moved between the deployed, in-useposition and the folded, transport position, the first and secondscrapper blades 73, 77 will move with the respective wing frame 15, 17.The adjacent ends of the first and main scrapper blades 73, 75 aredesigned so that they will overlap or abut one another when the firstwing frame 15 is in the deployed, in-use position as shown in FIG. 1.

The land plane 11 includes a second transverse scrapper blade means 79mounted to and beneath the main frame 13, the first wing frame 15, andthe second wing frame 17 via braces 81 or the like. The secondtransverse scrapper blade 79 is positioned parallel to and spacedrearwardly from the first transverse scrapper blade means 69, andextending diagonally from the first wing frame 15, across the main frame13 to the second wing frame 17. The second transverse scrapper blademeans 79 preferably includes a first scrapper blade 83 mounted to andbeneath the first wing frame 15, a main scrapper blade 85 mounted to andbeneath the main frame 13, and a second scrapper blade 87 mounted to andbeneath the second wing frame 17. The first and second scrapper blades83, 87 are designed so that when the wing frames 15, 17 are movedbetween the deployed, in-use position and the folded, transportposition, the first and second scrapper blades 83, 87 will move with therespective wing frame 15, 17. The adjacent ends of the first and mainscrapper blades 83, 85 and the main and second scraper blades 85, 87 aredesigned so that they will overlap or abut one another when the wingframes 15, 17 are in the deployed, in-use position as shown in FIG. 1.

The land plane 11 may be constructed in various manners and out ofvarious materials as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.Thus, for example, as hereinabove mentioned, the main frame 13 and wingframes 15, 17 may consist of open frameworks constructed out of metaltubing or the like, cut, welded and reinforced as desired. The variousscrapper blades are preferably off-the-shelf type agricultural bladesand may be joined to the respective frames 13, 15, 17 in a manner thatallows independent adjustment for height and tension, if desired, in anytypical manner now apparent to those skilled in the art.

The operation of the land plane 11 is as follows: First, the land plane11 is joined to the tow vehicle V via the hitch 29. Because the hitch 29is part of the upper portion of the main frame 13, the land plane 11will be pulled by the tow vehicle V from the upper portion of the mainframe 13 rather than the bottom or ground level as required by prior artland planes. The various hydraulic components of the land plane 11 canbe connected to the hydraulic system of the tow vehicle V to allow thedriver of the tow vehicle V to easily operate and control the land plane11. The wing frames 15, 17 can be raised to the folded, transportposition for being pulled over roads, highways, etc., to theagricultural field to be planed. Once at the agricultural field to beplaned, the wing frames 15, 17 are lowered to the deployed, in-useposition, and the land plane 11 is then pulled over the surface S of thefield. The layout and position of the various blade means 59, 69, 79 arecritical to the present invention and provides important benefits.First, the forward, V-shaped scrapper blade means 59 acts as astabilizer for the two, parallel transverse scrapper blade means 69, 79.Also, the specific layout of the blade means 59, 69, 79 causes dirt toflow substantially as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. That is, theV-shaped scrapper blade means 59 will both act as a stabilizer and causedirt to flow outward and rearward to the first transverse scrapper blademeans 69 in the direction of arrows 89 in FIG. 1. The first transversescrapper blade means 69 will cause dirt to flow generally rearward andtoward the left or second side of the land plane 11 as indicated byarrows 91 in FIG. 1, but with a portion of the dirt flowing through thegap 71 in the first transverse scrapper blade means 69 as indicated byarrows 93 in FIG. 1. The second transverse scrapper blade means 79 willalso cause dirt to flow generally rearward and toward the left or secondside of the land plane 11 as indicated by arrows 95 in FIG. 1.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated withrespect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred use therefor, it isnot to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made thereinwhich are within the full intended scope of the invention.

1. A land plane comprising: (a) a main frame including a front end, arear end, a first side, and a second sides; (b) a first wing frameattached to said first side of said main frame adjacent said front endof said main frame; (c) a second wing frame attached to said second sideof said main frame adjacent said rear end of said main frame; (d) aV-shaped scrapper blade means having an apex and mounted beneath saidmain frame with said apex adjacent said front end of said main framesubstantially centered between said first and second sides of said mainframe; (e) a first transverse scrapper blade means mounted beneath saidmain frame, said first wing frame, and said second wing frame; saidfirst transverse scrapper blade means extending diagonally from saidfirst wing frame across said main frame to said second wing frame; saidfirst transverse scrapper blade means having a gap adjacent said secondside of said main frame; and (f) a second transverse scrapper blademeans mounted beneath said main frame, said first wing frame, and saidsecond wing frame; said second transverse scrapper blade means beingparallel to and spaced rearwardly from said first transverse scrapperblade means, and extending diagonally from said first wing frame acrosssaid main frame to said second wing frame.
 2. The land plane of claim 1in which said first transverse scrapper blade means includes a firstscrapper blade mounted beneath said first wing frame, a main scrapperblade mounted beneath said main frame, and a second scrapper blademounted beneath said second wing frame with said gap of said firsttransverse scrapper blade means formed between said main and secondscrapper blades; and in which said second transverse scrapper blademeans includes a first scrapper blade mounted beneath said first wingframe, a main scrapper blade mounted beneath said main frame, and asecond scrapper blade mounted beneath said second wing frame.
 3. Theland plane of claim 2 in which said first wing frame is pivotallyattached to said first side of said main frame for movement between araised position and a deployed position; in which said second wing frameis pivotally attached to said second side of said main frame formovement between a raised position and a deployed position.
 4. A landplane for being pulled by a tow vehicle over a field to smooth and levelany irregularities in the surface of the field; said land planecomprising: (a) a main frame including a front end, a rear end, a firstside, and a second side; (b) a first wing frame pivotally attached tosaid first side of said main frame adjacent said front end of said mainframe; (c) hydraulic means for causing said first wing frame to pivotbetween a raised position and a deployed position; (d) a second wingframe pivotally attached to said second side of said main frame adjacentsaid rear end of said main frame; (e) hydraulic means for causing saidsecond wing frame to pivot between a raised position and a deployedposition; (f) a V-shaped scrapper blade means having an apex and mountedto and beneath said main frame with said apex adjacent said front end ofsaid main frame substantially centered between said first and secondsides of said main frame; (g) a first transverse scrapper blade meansmounted to and beneath said main frame, said first wing frame, and saidsecond wing frame; said first transverse scrapper blade means extendingdiagonally from said first wing frame across said main frame to saidsecond wing frame; said first transverse scrapper blade means having agap adjacent said second side of said main frame; said first transversescrapper blade means includes a first scrapper blade mounted to andbeneath said first wing frame, a main scrapper blade mounted to andbeneath said main frame, and a second scrapper blade mounted to andbeneath said second wing frame with said gap of said first transversescrapper blade means formed between said main and second scrapperblades; (h) a second transverse scrapper blade means mounted to andbeneath said main frame, said first wing frame, and said second wingframe; said second transverse scrapper blade means being parallel to andspaced rearwardly from first transverse scrapper blade means, andextending diagonally from said first wing frame across said main frameto said second wing frame; said second transverse scrapper blade meansincluding a first scrapper blade mounted to and beneath said first wingframe, a main scrapper blade mounted to and beneath said main frame, anda second scrapper blade mounted to and beneath aid second wing frame;(i) a hitch attached to the top of said front end of said main frame forallowing said land plane to be hitched to the tow vehicle; and (j) ahydraulic cylinder between said hitch said the top of said front end ofsaid main frame.